How to Cure the Winter Blues

Got the grumps? Seasonal Affective Disorder is more common than you think. See the easy solutions for shaking off your cold-weather funk now

What is S.A.D.? Winter means months of cold temperatures and dark days (literally), so it's no surprise we all get a little cranky. But if you're going beyond the occasional grumpy day, your feelings may actually be a sign of depression. "Seasonal Affective Disorder is a set of mood disorders that is associated with the decrease of exposure to sunlight," says Stephen C. Josephson, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center. The syndrome occurs typically in the fall and tends to get worse in the winter months. "It is also believed that there is a gene that causes some people to be predisposed," says Josephson.